| Health World option returns
Citing its central location and room for growth, Barrington Area Unit District 220 school board members have decided that moving its early childhood program to the former Health World childrens museum in Barrington is the best option. Now the question remains: Do residents feel the same way? The school board unanimously voted Wednesday to place a referendum on the April 17 ballot asking for $15.9 million to acquire and renovate the former museum for its early childhood program. If voters approve the proposal, the district would create 14 classrooms in the museum for the program. But the space also allows for an additional six classrooms to be added later. Officials also said second-floor space could eventually be used for administrative offices. The state-mandated early childhood program, which serves 3- to 5-year-olds who have special needs or are at risk of developing special needs, is now housed at Woodland School in Carpentersville.
Highlands goes global
Highlands Hospital in Connellsville is joining a Pittsburgh-based organization to send supplies to the neediest hospitals in some of the world's poorest countries. Dr. David Lemonick, emergency room director for Highlands Hospital, first heard about Global Links after his wife started volunteering for the organization two years ago. It also made him realize the unnecessary waste occurring in his own hospital. "It's disgraceful, the stuff that goes in the Dumpster," Lemonick said about the medical equipment tossed out because "even air touching the piece of equipment would have it considered to be contaminated." "It's only disposable if it's thrown away; it can be sanitized" is the principal behind the organization, Global Links, which began 18 years ago. The group has recognized that, each year, operating rooms in America throw away about 2,000 tons of medical equipment and supplies, much of it unused.
Outgoing Saudi Ambassador speaks of diplomacy
The Sept. 11 attacks caused a rift in the long, storied relationship between Saudi Arabia and the United States, said the Saudi Arabia outgoing ambassador to the United States in the 147th Landon Lecture Friday in McCain Auditorium.
Prince Turki al-Faisal said the relationship between Saudi Arabia and the United States dates back to Saudi King Abdul Aziz and U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt.
After the discovery of oil in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia was inundated with offers to deal for oil from many world powers including England and France. But the kingdom of Saudi Arabia chose to deal with the United States, due to the lack of U.S. colonialism, al-Faisal said.
Roosevelt and Aziz became friends and wrote letters to each other, beginning a long history with the United States.
Lincoln Businessman Charged With Medicare Fraud
LINCOLN, Neb. -- Federal prosecutors said a Lincoln businessman who sold motorized wheelchairs defrauded the Medicare program, so they charged him with 29 criminal counts. Mark Allen Frederick, 38, faces 18 counts of submitting fraudulent claims for motorized wheelchairs or accessories, and 11 counts of money laundering, according to the indictment unsealed in U.S. District Court last month. Frederick owned Mobility Specialists, which did business as the Scooter Superstore in Lincoln. According to the indictment, Frederick submitted claims for wheelchairs even though he knew the beneficiaries' physicians had not indicated the equipment was medically necessary. .
Democrats Luke Warm To Lingle's Proposals
HONOLULU -- Hawaii's Republican governor will have to get her proposals approved by the Legislature, which is controlled by Democrats. Democrats said they support some kind of tax refund. It is also required by the state Constitution. However, many of the Democrats do not want to go as far as the governor wants them to. Gov. Linda Lingle proposed refunding $100 to every person who earns less than $100,000 a year. .
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